Stand for supporting a street sign

ABSTRACT

A portable knockdown stand for supporting a street sign having a circular base with socket and a staff removably mounted in the socket. A sign is removably mounted on the top end of the staff. The stand is easily assembled and disassembled and is provided with a substantial joint massive gear ring between the staff and base. The staff is slidably mounted and is spring loaded. Spaced pins on the staff alternately engage the gear ring. In elevated position of the staff with spring expanded, the staff is nonrotatable with respect to the base. In lowered position, the staff can be rotated with respect to the base.

United States Patent [72] inventor Carl ll.

Foot d Leland SL, Peoria, Ill. 61602 (2| 1 Appl. No. 846,784 [22] Filed Aug. 1, 1969 [45) Patented Aug. 17,197!

[54] STAND FOR SUPPORTING A STREET SIGN 3 China, 5 Drawing Figs- [52] US. Cl. 248/403, 248/158, 248/418 [51] lnLCl. ..Fl6m.l1/08 [50] FieldotSeareh 248/418, 415, 45, 425,158,403

[56] llelerences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,655 4/1913 Bates 248/403 1,270,729 6/1918 248/403 1,453,992 5/1923 Palin 248/403 2,026,298 12/1935 Bouman 248/4 1 8 2,291,975 4/1942 Minero 248/418 2,764,223 9/1956 Mischke 248/418 3,119,588 1/1964 Keats 248/158 Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen Attorney-Polachek 8:. Saulsbury ABSTRACT: A portable knockdown stand for supporting a street sign having a circular base with socket and a staff removably mounted in the socket. A sign is removably mounted on the top end of the staff. The stand is easily assembled and disassembled and is provided with a substantial joint massive gear ring between the staff and base. The staff is siidably mounted and is spring loaded. Spaced pins on the staff alternately engage the gear ring. In elevated position of the staff with spring expanded, the staff is nonrotatable with respect to the base. in lowered position, the stafi can be rotated with respect to the base.

PATENIEIJAucmsm 3.595.924

sum 1 or z INVENTOR.

C ar/ l1 Sc/mw'a'ga STAND F OR SUPPORTING A STREET SIGN This invention relates to new and useful improvements in portable knockdown stands for supporting signs and the like.

The invention is particularly concerned with portable stands for supporting traffic signs, and the like, or for indicating barriers or boundaries for traffic. Such stands are generally made with heavy bases of circular form so that they can, while not oflering an immovable obstacle to trafic, still be ruggedly supported and at the same time easily moved by rolling them on the circular edge of their bases. The stands have in general a circular base, a tubular upright stafl or post secured in the base and a sign mounted on top of the upriflrt. I-Ieretofore, the uprights have been screw threaded into the base but this means has proven quite inadequate as the rough treatment the stand gets soon breaks the upright at the point where it enters the base.

A principal object of the instant invention is to provide a street sign with a supporting staff and massive base, with a substantial joint therebetween to permit rotation of the staff when lowered without moving the base, and to render the staff nonrotatable when elevated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stand of this kind that is readily dismantled for transportation and storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stand of this kind with a base having handle means for carrying the base.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a stand of this kind that can be quickly mounted and prepared for use without the employment of tools.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a portable stand of this kind which is designed for ease and economy in manufacture.

Still another object is to provide a portable and knockdown stand for supporting a sign which is practical, reliable and durable in use and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

Various objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification together with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a stand embodying one form of the invention, parts being shown broken away and parts being shown in section.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 showing the parts in moved position and showing parts broken away.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. I showing a stand embodying a modified form of the invention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of a further modified form of the invention, similar to FIG. 4 but staff in rotatable position.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawing, in FIG. I a stand for supporting signs embodying the invention is shown and designated generally as 10. The stand comprises generally a base 12, a staff or post I4 and a sign 16 supported on the top of the staff.

The base 12 is circular and preferably made of cast iron and is formed with a central upwardly extending hub portion 18 and a downwardly extending hub portion 20. A bore 22 extends axially through the hub portions and with the hub portions constitutes a socket. The side 24 of the base flares upwardly and terminates at the top in a flat horizontal platelike portion 26 and terminates at the bottom in a ringlike portion 28, the under surface of which is formed with an annular groove 30 providing spaced annular beaded portions 32,32 adapted to rest on a substantially flat surface 34. Annular metal spot grips 36 are preferably provided on the bottom surfaces of the beaded portions. A pair of opposed inverted V- shaped notches 38 is formed in the peripheral edge of the bottom hub portion 20, the apical ends of the notches being curved. A series of curved closed handholes 40 are formed in the top platelike portion 26 The stafl' or post I4 is tubular and elongated and is formed of metal. A pair of opposed holes 42 is formed therein midway its end and a similar pair of opposed holes 44 adjacent its bottom end, as viewed in FIG. I. A steel compression spring 46 is sleeved around the stafl' adjacent its bottom end, the bottom end of the spring being seated on a steel washer 50 slipped over the staff and resting on the top surface of the top hub portion 18. The top end of the spring impinges against a steel washer 52 slipped over the staff and positioned against a pin 54 extending through the opposed holes 42 in the staff. The bottom end of the stafl 14 is slidably fitted in the socket 22 in the hub portions of the base. A removable locking pin 56 extends throufli the pair of opposed holes 44 at the bottom of the staff, the ends of the pin extending outwardly on opposed sides of the staff and adapted to seat in the curved apical ends of the notches 38 in the bottom hub portion 20 as seen in FIG. 1.

The sign 16 is rectangular in shape and may be made of wood, plastic or other suitable sign material. The sign bears indicia 55 on the surface thereof such as the word sign. It is removably supported on the top of the staff 14 in any suitable manner.

In use, the staff 14 with sign 16 is normally urged upwardly with its locking pin 56 seated in the apical ends of the notches 38. In order to dismantle the stand, the staff 14 is grasped by the hand of the operator and pushed downwardly against the action of spring 46 carrying the pin 50 away from the notches 38, clearing the bottom of the hub portion 20 where the pin may be manually pulled out of the holes 44. The staff may then be lifted out of the socket 22 of the base 12.

In order to turn the sign around with respect to the base without moving the base, the stafi with sign and pin may be pushed downwardly until the pin clears the bottom of the hub portion 20 whereupon the staff may be turned, turning the sign and bringing the pin 56 into alignment with the notches 38. There will of course have to be some space in the roadway under hub portion 20 as indicated in FIG. 3, to permit the staff to descend far enough to extend pin 56 below the hub portion. Upon release of pressure upon the spring, the parts will return to nonnal position with the locking pin in the apical ends of the notches 38. The sign will then be turned around [80 from its position in FIG. I. It will be noted that this rotation of the sign is accomplished without changing the position of base 12.

In the stand 10' shown in FIG. 4, the base 12' is more upright than the base 12 and includes a tapered side 24' and a central hole 60. The sidewall is formed with an inner lower shoulder 62 and an inner upper shoulder 64. The upper shoulder 64 is formed with depending teeth 66. Threaded holes 68 intersect the lower shoulder 62. The staff 14' is provided with a transverse pin 70 spaced upwardly from its lower pin 56' and offset from the axis center of the staff. In accordance with this form of the invention, a mechanism is provided for turning the staff 14' with a sign mounted as shown in FIG. I. This mechanism includes a gear ring 72 loosely mounted on the staff adjacent its bottom end. The gear ring is formed with a hub portion 74. The lower peripheral edge of the hub portion is formed with opposed inverted V-shaped notches 38' and the upper inner periphery of the ring gear is formed with opposed inverted V-shaped camming extensions 76, disposed in the path of movement of the pin 70 which is normally elevated above the carnming extensions. The inverted V-shaped notches 38' seat on the lower pin 56' of staff 14'. A circular plate 76 is secured to the lower shoulder 62 of the sidewall by means of screw and nut assemblies 78. The plate is formed with a central opening 80 to slidably receive the gear ring. The washer 52' is fixed to staff 14' by screw 8!. In this position of the parts, the staff is held in nonrotatable position by engagement of pin 56 in notches 38' while pin 70 is clear of camming extensions 76.

In other respects, the stand 10' is similar to stand 10 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

In use, when the stafl' I4 is manually pushed downwardly in the direction of the arrow, the pin 70 carried by the stafi' engages the camming extensions 76 on the gear ring 72 pushing the teeth 82 on said gear ring downwardly clear of the teeth 66 on the shoulder 64. The hub portion '74 of the gear ring will be cleared by the lowermost pin 56'. The staff 14' with sign can then be turned manually. Plate 76 limits the downward movement of the gear ring. When the staff is released and moves up again the gear ring is again held in uppermost position by the pin 56' engaging in notches 38.

The stand 10" shown in FIG. 5 difiers from the stand of FIG. 4 in that the gear ring 72" is formed with opposed V- shaped notches 38" in the upper, inner peripheral edge thereof, and the bottom inner peripheral edge of the hub portion is formed with opposed V-shaped camming extensions 76''.

In use, with stafl'elevated, teeth 66 and 8 will be mutually engaged while spring 46 is expanded and lower pin 70" bears upwardly against ring 72". Pin 56" will then be clear of the ring. When it is desired to rotate the sign, the sign and staif will be pushed axially downward until upper pin 46" engages in notches 38". The stafi will be pushed manually axially downward until ring 72" rests on ring 76 as shown in FIG. 5. Pin 70" will be clear of camming extensions 76" and teeth 82" will be disengaged from teeth 66. Thiswill permit rotation of the staff and sign without turning the base 12. When the stat! 14" is released it is moved upwardly by spring 46 in the direction of the arrow, the pin 70" at the lower end of the stafl' engages the camming extensions 7 forcing the gear ring 72" upward, and simultaneously the teeth 8 on the gear ring and the teeth 66" on the shoulder 64" mesh. Pin 56" then clears notches 38". In both stands 10' and [0" the lower pin on the staff holds the staff in nonrotatable position with respect to the ring gear while the teeth of the ring gear engage the teeth in the base. The upper pin on the staff engages the ring for turning it only in the lowered position of the staff. This mode of operation is made possible by spacing the pins axially of the staff a greater distance apart than the spacing of the apices of the camming extensions and notches axially of the ring gear.

What I claim is:

l. A stand for supporting a sign, comprising a massive, rigid hollow base adapted to rest on a flat surface and having an upper hub portion, said hub portion having a central hole defining a socket, said base having a tapering sidewall terminating in a flat annular bottom portion; an elongated axially vertical cylindrical shaft axially slidable and circumferentially rotatable in said socket; a coil spring engaged around the staff; a washer fixed on the stafi' above the base. said spring being seated on the base and bearing upwardly against said washer to support the stafl' and sign in an elevated position; and means for selectively holding said stafi' and sign nonrotatably on the base and for allowing rotational repositioning of the staff and sign with respect to the base while the base remains stationary, said means comprising first teeth integral with and depending from the interior of said upper hub portion of the base; a ring loosely mounted on the stafl inside the base. said ring having an integral lower hub portion; second teeth integral with and extending upwardly from said ring for engaging said first teeth, said ring having radially opposed V-shaped camming portions integral therewith and radially opposed V-shaped notches axially spaced from said camming portions; an upper pin; and a lower pin, both pins extending transversely through the staff inside the base, the spacing of said pins on the shaft being greater than the spacing of the apices of said V-shaped camming portions from the apices of the V-shaped notches on the ring so that one pin will be engaged in said notches while the other pin is clear of said camming portions and so that said one pin will be disengaged from the notches while the other pin is engaged by the camming portions, whereby said first and second teeth will be mutually engaged while the spring is expanded and the lower pin engages the ring to hold the staff and sign elevated and nonrotatable with respect to the base, and w ereby the first and second teeth will be disengaged while the spring is compressed and the upper pin engages the ring to hold the staff and sign in lowered rotatable disposition with respect to the base.

2. A stand as defined in claim I, wherein said camming portions are located on top of the ring for engagement by the upper pin while said notches are formed in said lower hub portion of the ring for engagement by the lower pin.

3. A stand as defined in claim 1, wherein said notches are located on top of the ring for engagement by the upper pin while said camming portions depend from said lower hub portions of the ring for engagement by the lower pin. 

1. A Stand for supporting a sign, comprising a massive, rigid hollow base adapted to rest on a flat surface and having an upper hub portion, said hub portion having a central hole defining a socket, said base having a tapering sidewall terminating in a flat annular bottom portion; an elongated axially vertical cylindrical shaft axially slidable and circumferentially rotatable in said socket; a coil spring engaged around the staff; a washer fixed on the staff above the base, said spring being seated on the base and bearing upwardly against said washer to support the staff and sign in an elevated position; and means for selectively holding said staff and sign nonrotatably on the base and for allowing rotational repositioning of the staff and sign with respect to the base while the base remains stationary, said means comprising first teeth integral with and depending from the interior of said upper hub portion of the base; a ring loosely mounted on the staff inside the base, said ring having an integral lower hub portion; second teeth integral with and extending upwardly from said ring for engaging said first teeth, said ring having radially opposed V-shaped camming portions integral therewith and radially opposed V-shaped notches axially spaced from said camming portions; an upper pin; and a lower pin, both pins extending transversely through the staff inside the base, the spacing of said pins on the shaft being greater than the spacing of the apices of said V-shaped camming portions from the apices of the V-shaped notches on the ring so that one pin will be engaged in said notches while the other pin is clear of said camming portions and so that said one pin will be disengaged from the notches while the other pin is engaged by the camming portions, whereby said first and second teeth will be mutually engaged while the spring is expanded and the lower pin engages the ring to hold the staff and sign elevated and nonrotatable with respect to the base, and whereby the first and second teeth will be disengaged while the spring is compressed and the upper pin engages the ring to hold the staff and sign in lowered rotatable disposition with respect to the base.
 2. A stand as defined in claim 1, wherein said camming portions are located on top of the ring for engagement by the upper pin while said notches are formed in said lower hub portion of the ring for engagement by the lower pin.
 3. A stand as defined in claim 1, wherein said notches are located on top of the ring for engagement by the upper pin while said camming portions depend from said lower hub portions of the ring for engagement by the lower pin. 